Cramer Votes For Debt Ceiling Increase

The House voted to send the Senate a three-month increase in the national debt ceiling today, which will push the date for the next negotiation on the increase around the time the Senate is required, by law, to produce a budget.

North Dakota Congressman Kevin Cramer voted for the increase, and sent out this statement on it in a press release:

“Today, I voted for H.R. 325, the No Budget No Pay Act of 2013. Before there is any long-term debt limit increase, a budget should be passed which controls the out of control spending in Washington, and allows for a broader debate about how to tackle the important issues facing America. House Republicans passed a budget in the past and we will do it again. With the right reforms put in place, the goal is to pass a budget balanced within a decade. This legislation obligates the Senate to finally join the House in confronting the government spending problem which will help create more jobs for hardworking American families.”

I’ve already received some emails from conservatives upset with Cramer’s vote, but I’m honestly not sure what else the House can do at this time. Republicans have one house of the legislative branch of government. They cannot set the agenda. The most they can do is use leverage points, such as the debt ceiling, to get concessions out of Democrats in the Senate and President Obama in the White House.

In this instance, they’re going to force Democrats to budget. Is that going to solve our problems? Of course not. But Republicans can’t solve anything while largely out of power in Washington DC, and refusing the raise the debt ceiling at all would either result in a spending crisis which would ensure Republicans don’t hold the House after the next election or in President Obama deploying one of the “nuclear options” to usurp from Congress the authority over the debt ceiling.

Neither option is palatable. And let’s remember that what’s driving our national debt and deficit problem is the fact that most Americans don’t really want a solution. They want all the programs and appropriations the federal government is doing now, and then some, plus they want someone else to pay for it. Until Americans feel differently, and vote accordingly, things are going to stay the way they are.

Here’s my interview with Cramer from earlier this week talking about the debt ceiling and gun rights:

Rob Port is the editor of SayAnythingBlog.com. In 2011 he was a finalist for the Watch Dog of the Year from the Sam Adams Alliance and winner of the Americans For Prosperity Award for Online Excellence. In 2013 the Washington Post named SAB one of the nation's top state-based political blogs, and named Rob one of the state's best political reporters.

Related posts

The GOP needs a political edge of some sort, because they can’t seem to be articulate enough to work the narrative in the press. So doing this at least gets some news value and puts the pressure on the Dems to actually quit whining for the 5th year in a row about “obstructionist Republicans”

Clairvoyant

The GOP have been unable to articulate anything of substance, a position that they share with the Democrats. Both parties have demonstrated their focus is on which ever special interest group will throw them the most money, in return for insisting on policy that does not benefit citizens and taxpayers of the United States. We have brain dead party “sheeple” that gobble and mumble whatever they saw on MSNBC or Fox. Same folks start quoting Rush Limbaugh and Ed Schultz as legitimate sources for facts. The problem exacerbates itself by the brainwashed party faithful who interrupt and say, “yeah, but at least we’re better” than “______________”. .

Captornado

If by ‘political edge’ you mean a F’N backbone then I would agree with you.

http://realitybasedbob.sayanythingblog.com/ realitybasedbob

You guys should go all in with the teaster secessionist, eliminate Social Security, Medicare and education kind of gops. That would really set you up for the next election. Have you heard of the Pauls?

LastBestHope

“It’s interesting to note, after almost four years having passed, with an economy that has been struggling, the Senate never acted,” House majority leader Eric Cantor (R., Va.) said in a statement. “It took one week in which their paychecks were on the line and now the Senate is going to step up and do the right thing.”

Finally. The GOP put the spotlight on the Senate in a way that even the most casual observer can grasp: No Work, No Pay.

Victory is when a series of winning moves obtains the desired result. Mark today’s vote down as a much needed win for House republicans.

WOOF

The Democratic Senate will pass a budget that cuts spending and raises revenues from u know who.
The Republican House will be back on their feinting couches threatening to shut the government, again.
A losing proposition.

LastBestHope

“The Democratic Senate will pass a budget that cuts spending”

LOL

Yogibare

The American public received a message from Obama and the Democrats last November: vote for us because we will keep the freebies coming your way.
The Obama-ites also told everyone including the MSM that the Repubs are the meanies who will cut your freebies.
As we saw very clearly: the people chose the “freebies” !! They will continue to choose the freebies until the Chinese bankers refuse to loan us more money. Then Obama and Reid and Pelosi, Schumer, et al will find a way to blame this on the Republicans. The MSM will go along with it because they are never wrong.

http://nofreelunch.areavoices.com/ Kevin Flanagan

Where are my “freebies?” Where is the guarantee that the day-to-day value of my retirement account never goes down?

Tim

Kevin. U r already getting freebies from the federal government which is one reason you say (time and time again ) u pay more in state income taxes than u do in federal taxes. How many freebies u want??

http://nofreelunch.areavoices.com/ Kevin Flanagan

I want the same freebies your household and Cory Fong’s household enjoys.

Bill

Cramer is a self-proclaimed pragmatist. He has been in office for only a few weeks, so I’m willing to give him some leeway here and believe he made a pragmatic short term decision with an eye on the bigger picture. Don’t let me down, Rep. Cramer. I never miss a chance to vote.

headward

Raise the debt ceiling with a complete repeal of Obamacare. I think that would be a fair deal.

Dalllas

Love it. Three weeks and he goes liberal on you. I always knew he was a deep thinker.

http://www.themarketingsurvivalist.blogspot.com melissapaulik

I am not convinced this act will force the Senate to come up with a budget. For most of these guys, their salaries are a drop in the bucket compared to what they earn on the side. Besides, Obama was in favor if this bill and that’s enough in itself to make me skeptical.

SAB is an Amazon Affiliate. Shop using the widget above and help keep this blog going.